Contents March 2001
News
DoH issues guideline on psychological therapies
In Reply
Assessing competence to refuse treament is not easy
GP Dr Mark Wood argues that deciding whether a patient is competent to refuse treatment is far from straightforward
Editorial
PIN group gives patients input into NICE guidance
Neil Betteridge, chair of the Patients in NICE group, and Head of Public Policy and Campaigning, Arthritis Care
Personal View
NSF must not prevent GPs taking a holistic approach
Dr David Archer suggests that compliance with the NSF on CHD should not stop GPs treating patients as individuals
Guideline Development
BSG guidelines should improve management of patients with IBS
Dr Ajeya Shetty and Dr Alastair Forbes explain how new guidance from the BSG should speed up the diagnosis of IBS and reduce unnecessary procedures
Linking Evidence to Practice
Trials support the use of ACE inhibitors in chronic heart failure
Dr Andrew Clark explains why ACE inhibitors should be prescribed for all patients with evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction unless contraindicated
NEW SERIES: Beacon Awards
Beacon practice's COPD management strategy is adopted by PCG
In the first of a new series, Dr Ian Eccleston and Kay Holt describe how their approach to implementing the BTS guidelines has been taken up by their PCG
Locality Initiative
Shared care guideline reduces referrals for children with croup
Drs Jack Beattie and James Paton explain how a local, joint guideline recommending early treatment with corticosteroids significantly improved outcomes in croup
Guideline Implementation
Primary care guidelines aim to simplify obesity management
GP Dr Ian Campbell explains why he and other primary healthcare professionals decided to produce concise guidance on tackling obesity
Electronic Communication
Using information technology in the modern NHS
In the third article in this series, Dr Nigel Watson argues that you cannot afford to ignore information technology in the light of new electronic initiatives in the NHS
Medico-legal Issues in Practice
What healthcare professionals need to know about PGDs
In the third article in this series, Dr Gerard Panting, of the MPS, discusses medico-legal issues around the drawing up and implementation of patient group directions
Key Organisations
The King's Fund
Dr Stephen Gillam, Director of Primary Care, and Andrew Bell, Head of Public Affairs, King's Fund
eGuidelines
eGuidelines update
Guidelines summaries and Guidelines in Practice online at https://eguidelines.co.uk
CLIP Database
Clinical Improvements Online Database: a new initiative
A new eGuidelines initiative supporting local clinical practice
Questions & Answers
Your problems solved
Our editorial board answer your questions on the NICE guidance on zanamivir and inclusion of targets in guidelines
Out of Hours
Guidelines to the future
Dr Phil Hammond, GP, lecturer and presenter of BBC2's Trust Me, I'm a Doctor
